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Unread 07-02-2009, 12:56
Urban Hawk Urban Hawk is offline
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Re: Team 665 Fan/s and More

Quote:
sorry, but Q&A got to that one pretty quickly when it was brought up. http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=11025

Yeah, it's intended to deflect incoming moon rocks. But I can almost guarantee you that at least one inspector per event will not allow the up-angle. (Most likely the lead inspector, but could be another one.) It's going to be really hard to build a deflection system that works using air jets, because it has to be horizontal. That said, anyone who does a fully legal one deserves at least a Xerox Creativity Award.
well i looked at the thread you gave me but id rather have to dissagree with it. There are 2 main arguments in there against it. The first being the vaccume will damage the floor and the second being it goes against <R06>.

For the first of the 2 I'd have to say that the main argument there is merely about suction such as a vacuum cleaner would provide. How ever if you have it so that the fan draws the air from a large area around it then it shouldn't create a vacuum and should dispel that particular argument.

As for the second with it breaking rule <R06> from what i see of the rule it isn't breaking it.
Quote:
<R06> ROBOTs must use ROVER WHEELS (as supplied in the 2009 Kit Of Parts and/or their equivalent as provided by the supplying vendor) to provide traction between the ROBOT and the ARENA. Any number of ROVER WHEELS may be used. The ROVER WHEELS must be used in a “normal” orientation (i.e. with the tread of the wheel in contact with the ground, with the axis of rotation parallel to the ground and penetrating the wheel hub). No other forms of traction devices (wheels, tracks, legs, or other devices intended to provide traction) are permitted. The surface tread of the ROVER WHEELS may not be modified except through normal wear-and-tear. Specifically, the addition of cleats, studs, carved treads, alterations to the wheel profile, high-traction surface treatments, adhesive coatings, abrasive materials, and/or other attachments are prohibited. The intent of this rule is that the ROVER WHEELS be used in as close to their “out of the box” condition
The fan is not a traction device because it doesn't provide traction. It merely causes an increase of the force caused by frame of the robot (and the components of the robot) in pushing/pulling downward on the wheels. The robot already naturally does this through gravity but the fan just increases it further and so increases the wheels natural friction without any form of modification to the wheels.
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